In-Person Events

A pilot project by APRI Armenia Yerevan, Armenia APRI Armenia has released its new report, Better Policy: Reforms to Armenia’s Public Administration, the outcome of a six-month research project. The study draws on nearly 40 interviews with key stakeholders both in Armenia and abroad to evaluate the implementation of the Public Administration Reform Strategy and to identify structural and cultural obstacles to effective policymaking. The pilot project concludes with a roadmap of targeted recommendations to help address the issues identified during the research. Programme Welcoming remarks by Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President of Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia Opening remarks by Edgar Mkrtchyan, Head of Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan’s Office Presentation of the research findings by Hovsep Babayan, Research Fellow in Public Administration Reforms, APRI Armenia Fireside chat with Egle Rimkute, Senior Policy Advisor, OECD/SIGMA (online)   Panel discussion Lilya Afrikyan, Head of Participatory and Open Governance Department, Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Jrbashyan, Partner, Director of Management Advisory, Ameria Advisory Hrachik Yarmaloyan, Regional Component Manager for the Eastern Partnership on Service Delivery/Digital Transformation, Regional Project “Public Administration Reform in the EaP Countries”/ National Coordinator in Armenia, GIZ Armenia Moderated by Hovsep Babayan, Research Fellow, APRI Armenia

Joint event organized by Ghent University’s Eureast Platform and APRI Armenia with the support of the Belgian Embassy to the Republic of Armenia Yerevan, Armenia APRI Armenia co-organized an event on Armenia–European Union relations in partnership with Ghent University’s Eureast Platform, with the support of the Embassy of Belgium in Armenia. The event brought together key figures, experts, and stakeholders to discuss Armenia’s evolving geopolitical positioning and its relations with the EU.The panel discussion explored key issues surrounding Armenia’s path toward deeper EU integration. The two sessions investigated Armenia’s geopolitical positioning and EU–Armenia relations, including human rights promotion and the implementation of the bilateral Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. The challenges and opportunities facing Armenia on its potential path toward EU accession were also discussed. Session 1: Geopolitical Landscape and EU Relations with Armenia H.E. Eric De Muynck, Belgium’s Ambassador to Armenia H.E. Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia Moderator: Fabienne Bossuyt, Associate Professor and Co-Coordinator of the Ghent Institute for International and European Studies Session 2: EU Support for Human Rights and Armenia’s Potential Path to EU Accession Laura Luciani, Postdoctoral Researcher, Ghent Institute for International and European Studies H.E. Ambassador Samvel Mkrtchian, Head of European Department, Armenian Foreign Ministry Tomasz Ostropolski, Deputy Head of Political, Press and Information Section, EU Delegation to Armenia Peter Van Elsuwege, Professor of EU Law and Jean Monnet Chair, Ghent University Moderator: Fabienne Bossuyt, Associate Professor and Co-Coordinator of the Ghent Institute for International and European Studies

An opening session on India-Armenia relations at the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier geopolitical conference San Francisco, USA APRI Armenia, in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation America and the Observer Research Foundation, hosted a roundtable in San Francisco. The event called Global Diaspora Forum brought together leaders from the Indian and Armenian diasporas to engage in a thoughtful dialogue on the role of emerging technologies in driving economic growth and influencing global geopolitics.The dialogue explored ways to leverage diaspora networks for a more resilient future and examined the impact of the Bay Area’s tech sector on US foreign policy post-2024. The meeting highlighted the importance of India–Armenia partnerships in tech and entrepreneurship for Armenia’s development. Distinguished speakers of the roundtable: Hakob Arshakyan, Vice President of the Armenian National Assembly Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation America Samir Saran, President of the Observer Research Foundation Moderator: Yervant Zorian, Chief Architect, Synopsys, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, APRI Armenia The event was enriched by the contributions of all participants, whose insights and expertise added valuable perspectives to the conversation.

Joint launch event with Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Armenia Yerevan, Armenia APRI Armenia, in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Armenia, undertook the study on “Geopolitical Future of the South Caucasus” from July to September 2024 to better understand the factors shaping the geopolitical future of the South Caucasus. The project involved the active participation of Armenian, Georgian, and Azerbaijani experts through interviews and a closed roundtable discussion and provided recommendations to transform the South Caucasus into a more stable, secure, and prosperous region. APRI Armenia Senior Research Fellow Benyamin Poghosyan presented the main findings of the report, emphasizing the need for cooperative regional initiatives. A panel discussion was held with: Ahmad Alili, Head of Research Department, Caucasus Policy Analysis Center Thomas Hacker, Member of German Bundestag, Free Democratic Party (FDP) Johnny Melikyan, Senior Research Fellow, Orbeli Analytical Center Olesya Vartanyan, South Caucasus Security Expert Moderator: Benyamin Poghosyan, Senior Research Fellow at APRI Armenia You can read the full report here About our partner The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) began its dialogue work in the South Caucasus in 1996 and has been implementing projects in Armenia since 2002. The FNF works as an innovation platform for liberal politics in more than 60 countries. Its work focuses on the freedom, responsibility, and dignity of every human being. The foundation supports the political, social, and economic institutions that make this possible: liberal democracy, the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and the social market economy. In Armenia, FNF’s work focuses on democratization and the protection of human rights. To this end, they offer political education activities to strengthen the participation of citizens. The foundation works with local partners to support them through cooperation. At the same time, the foundation promotes international dialogue and integrates Armenian interlocutors into liberal networks.

An opening session on India-Armenia relations at the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier geopolitical conference New Delhi, India On February 21 the Applied Policy Research Institute of Armenia (APRI Armenia), in cooperation with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), co-hosted the India-Armenia Dialogue as one of the opening sessions of the 2024 Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier conference on geopolitics and strategic studies. The Raisina Dialogue is held annually in New Delhi as a joint initiative of ORF and the Ministry of External Affairs of India. The India-Armenia dialogue was opened by APRI Armenia President Lara Setrakian and Mr. Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman of ORF, followed by keynote remarks delivered by Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan. After all opening remarks, the dialogue turned to two panels. In the first panel, entitled “India-Armenia Geostrategic Cooperation: From Security to Defence,” panelists spoke about the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus and the implications of the India-Armenia relationship in defense and diplomacy. The panel included: Nvard Chalikyan, Research Fellow, APRI Armenia Benyamin Poghosyan, Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia Ambassador Reena Pandey, Former Ambassador of India to Armenia Manu Pubby, Senior Editor, The Economic Times Moderator: Lara Setrakian, President, APRI Armenia The India-Armenia Dialogue also featured a panel entitled “Platforming a New Geoeconomics: Technology, Energy, Connectivity.” Speakers from the private sector and academia discussed collaboration opportunities in technology and artificial intelligence, renewable energy, trade, infrastructure, and digital transformation. The panel included: Grigor Harutyunyan, Investment Director, Amber Capital Armenia Raffi Kassarjian, CEO, Sensyan Gulshan Sachdeva, Professor, Centre for European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University Nilanjan Ghosh, Director, Centre for New Economic Diplomacy, ORF Kolkata Moderator: Shairee Malhotra, Europe Fellow, Observer Research Foundation This was APRI Armenia’s second year co-hosting the India-Armenia Dialogue with ORF. Read more about the highlights and outcome of the conference here.

Joint event with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Yerevan Office—South Caucasus Region Yerevan, Armenia In cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Yerevan Office—South Caucasus Region, APRI Armenia undertook this study over the course of six weeks to better understand the evolving and multifaceted relationship between the European Union and Armenia. The project engaged both Armenian and European stakeholders, including public officials, diplomats, and members of civil society in Yerevan and Brussels, and provided recommendations to contribute to the official policy dialogue. H.E. Tigran Balayan, Head of Mission of Armenia to the European Union, and H. E. Viktor Richter, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Armenia, joined APRI Armenia Vice President of Strategy and Development Anahide Pilibossian in making opening remarks. APRI Armenia Associate Fellow Mara Nazaretyan presented the main findings of the report, highlighting key opportunities and challenges in further strengthening EU–Armenia relations. A panel discussion on the future direction of Armenia–EU relations was held with: Samvel Mkrtchyan, Head of the European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Sonja Schiffers, Director, Tbilisi Office of the South Caucasus Region of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Anna Gevorgyan, Senior Researcher of the Center for Culture and Civilization Studies at Yerevan State University Silja Kasmann, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Armenia Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President of Strategy and Development at APRI Armenia About our partner The Heinrich Böll Foundation (hbs) Yerevan is a branch office of the hbs Tbilisi Office—South Caucasus Region. Its main objective is to contribute to democratization in the South Caucasus. Hbs Yerevan promotes gender equality, human rights, and social and environmental justice. Together with its partners, hbs Yerevan supports initiatives that strengthen democratic political culture in Armenia and opens a space for discussions on civil society, gender democracy, and environmental transformation. You can read the full report here

Joint event at the German Bundestag with Candid Foundation and Restart Initiative Deutscher Bundestag, Berlin, Germany This year has seen an acceleration of Germany’s engagement with Armenia and Azerbaijan against the backdrop of renewed tensions between the two neighbouring countries following a fragile ceasefire brokered in late 2020. In March, Berlin hosted the visits of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. In June, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for the first time—together with French President Emmanuel Macron—participated in the peace negotiations facilitated by European Union Council President Charles Michel, on the margins of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Chisinău. President Michel expressed his intention to invite the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, France, and Germany to meet a second time in the margins of the next EPC summit in Granada in October. The ongoing crisis around the Lachin Corridor – which connects the Armenian populated areas of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia – has stirred fear in European capitals of a new wave of displacement and war in the South Caucasus. As Azerbaijan and Armenia walk a thin line between war and stability: what weight can Germany add as a more active participant in the diplomatic process led by the EU? With its economic and political capital with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, how can Berlin play a greater role in supporting the journey of building a lasting peace? This roundtable, co-organized by the Candid Foundation, APRI Armenia and Restart Initiative will provide some answers to the role—expected or prepared for—that Germany can play in durably resolving the conflict between the neighbouring Caucasian countries. The event will be in English.  Speakers: Michael Roth, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Bundestag (Introduction) Lara Setrakian, President, APRI Armenia, Yerevan Ahmad Alili, Director, Caucasus Policy Center, Baku Moderator: Leo Wigger, Associate Partner, Candid Foundation and Editor at zenith Magazine The Candid Foundation gGmbH is an independent non-profit organisation, which since its establishment in 2014, has developed into a privately chartered think tank and a dynamic project hub. We are based in Berlin, Germany, but remain sensitive to developments in the Middle East, Mediterranean, the South Caucasus and South Asia and other locations where our projects are focused.  APRI Armenia: The Applied Policy Research Institute of Armenia (APRI Armenia) is a nonpartisan and independent think tank focused on advancing regional stability, sustainable prosperity, and civic engagement. Our programs and initiatives are oriented toward concrete problem-solving, addressing key challenges for the realization of Armenia’s, and ultimately the region’s, potential. Through its activities as a convener and collaborator APRI Armenia facilitates breakthrough ideas and multistakeholder initiatives for positive change in the region. APRI Armenia is an independent organization founded by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), a trusted name in Armenian philanthropy for more than 115 years. Restart Initiative is a non-profit organization with the mission of building connections for economic, social and political development in the South Caucasus. We use our deep expertise in international development to identify opportunities for constructive engagement for peace in the region. Remarks by APRI Armenia President Lara Setrakian